Chance me... first/second tier schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Background: I'm a junior in high school, and I live in a rural-ish Maine town of about 7,000 people. Like 97% of the people in Maine, I'm white. </p>

<p>Class rank - 1st or 2nd out of about 180 in my class</p>

<p>GPA - Not sure on a 4.0 scale, but weighted out of 100 I have something like a 99.5</p>

<p>SAT - 2180, 700 W, 730 M, 750 CR. This was my first take, and I was surprised that CR was my highest score. When I retake I would at least expect my math to jump a few points. This was the highest score in my high school this year.</p>

<p>SAT II - Bio, 750; World History, 750; Literature, 700;</p>

<p>AP - Bio, 5; World History, 5; Literature, 5;
Pending AP - Chemistry, Computer Science A, Calculus AB, Language and Composition</p>

<p>I have gotten at least an A in every single one of my classes since Freshman year.
Freshman-
H. Physics I (was placed out of physics II)
Anatomy and Physiology A&B
US Gov A&B
H Freshman Englisht I & II
Current Events
H Geometry A & B
French IA/B
Concert Band
Adv. Dance
Ceramics</p>

<p>Sophomore
I believe I am the only sophomore at my school to have taken 3 AP classes during sophomore year.
AP Literature (5)
AP World History (5)
AP Biology (5)
French IIA/B
Adv Dance II/III
Health
GT H Precalculus</p>

<p>Junior
H Modern World
AP Language and Composition
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science
AP Calculus AB
Psychology
French IIIA/B</p>

<p>Speculative Senior Schedule includes:
AP Environmental Science
AP Calculus BC (independent study of BC instead of AP Statistics... thoughts?)
(maybe) AP Physics (this would be another independent study)
Travelers and Madmen in Literature (online UMaine university course)
French IV A/B
H United States History A/B
H Philosophical Seminar</p>

<p>ECs
Math team - 3 years so far, soon to be 4. Captain.
Envirothon team - competed at states this year
Gay-Straight Alliance- got into this when I volunteered heavily for the "No on One" campaign trying to bring equal rights to gay people in Maine
Track - 3 years, I'm not a star, but I enjoy the exercise and the people
Cross country - 2 years
Show Choir - 2 years- this is a big deal at my school. It is a selective bunch of kids, and this year we were State Champions and competed in Orlando, Florida. I am a dance captain.
Fall musical - 2 years - no leads, but dance captain and choreographed 3 numbers in the last musical
NHS - member 2 years, am President Elect</p>

<p>Other than school related things, dance is a big part of my life outside of school. I take multiple dance classes per week, and this year had a part time job teaching beginning dance classes to young children.</p>

<p>Umm.... so I think that's pretty much it.</p>

<p>Colleges.
I don't have full plans, but I have been browsing schools and I've visited some as well. This is my list so far.
Please feel free to suggest colleges that you think would be a good fit for me, tell me that my sights are set way to high or too low. Also, feel free to tell me areas above that I could improve in order to be a stronger applicant.</p>

<p>Tufts
MIT
Harvard
Swarthmore
Bryn Mawr
Princeton
UPenn
Johns Hopkins
Northeastern</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>small bump because i’m impatient.</p>

3

<p>Test scores and lack of impressive ECs will specifically invalidate your candidacy at MIT, Harvard, Penn and Princeton and dampen your chances at the rest. I wouldn’t say that you are completely out of the running for the Tier 1.5 schools you listed, though.</p>

4

<p>^I agree. MIT, Harvard, and Princeton will not fly - but I think he might have a shot at Penn if he doesn’t do Wharton.</p>

5

<p>I’d apply CAS to major in Biology…
another note, I did win a fellowship (paid internship) at a reputable biological lab for the summer. Applications were open to people both from my state and around the country.</p>

6

<p>and what can I do to improve my chances?</p>

7

<p>Bowdoin? I think colleges in other regions of the country will appreciate you being from Maine, but I can’t be sure. I think you’ll get into Swarthmore, but I notice a lack of safeties or even matches really. University of Maine? Penn State? Colby? So many options.</p>

8

<p>safety-wise I’ll apply to UMaine, Boston University, that strain. I didn’t list those, because those aren’t the schools I need feedback for.</p>

9

<p>Just got my ACT scores back, and was wondering how much they changed things drastically, or if i still need to strengthen ECs dramatically.</p>

<p>C- 36
E- 35
M - 35
R- 36
S- 36</p>

<p>I obviously did much better on the ACT than SAT.
I’m hoping that this makes me a much stronger candidate.</p>

10

<p>Yes, it absolutely does. With the equivalent of a 2400 on your SATs, you’re application will not be (at the very least) considered at every school you listed. Coupled with a strong GPA, I’d say that your chances at Harvard, MIT, Penn and Princeton have improved. You do still lack good ECs, however, so I wouldn’t say you are a shoe-in just yet. Consider your ED options, and hopefully everything will work out for the best.</p>

11

<p>Because you are kind of an uncertain applicant, i suggest you look into the ED at Penn as an option like billabongboy(lol) said.
It would arguably give you a tip.</p>

<p>Another thing i want to point out is that the subject tests really arent that impressive. So many people have 800’s nowadays on them that it really puts a strain on everyone else.</p>

12

<p>Dang! Nice job on the ACT’s! It definitely puts you within reach of the schools you listed. The Ivy League and MIT are reaches for everybody, but I think the other schools are high matches/matches for you! :)</p>

<p>[thread=951222]Chance Me Back?[/thread]</p>